Can-opener.



PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

A. G. EULNER.

CAN OPEN-ER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.25.1907.

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ALFRED G. EULNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed September 25' 1907- Serial No. 394.444:-

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. EULNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can-Openers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a can-opener, adapted for opening cans of different sizes, that will combine the advantages of simplicity of construction, lightness, and adaptability to cans of the widest variation in size, with the advantage of ease and effectiveness of operation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the can-opener Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 a front end view.

a is the handle in the form of a cylinder, hailring an annular flare or shoulder b at each enc c is a rod, of non-circular shape in crosssection, which extends entirely through the handle and projects a substantial distance beyond each end thereof, the rod extending through orifices d in the end walls 6 of the cylinder, said orifices being shaped to substantially conform to the cross-sections of the rod. The rod 0, at one end, isbent outward with relation to its shank, and thence forwardly, the forward end being of the shape of an elongated cone and forming a piercing point f offset with relation to the shank.

The shoulder at the forward end of the handle is out off on one side, as is also the outer wall of the handle back of the front shoulder, to form a flat surface against which is secured, by screws 9, therear end of a cutting blade or knife h. This knife is located on the same side of the shank of the rod as is the piercing point f, and extends laterally with respect to the handle and rod as well as forwardly. The cutting edge at of the knife is the edge nearest the rod and is in. the shape of a curve, concave with respect to the body of the blade, its forward end being nearly or quite straight and separated from the rod, in a lateral direction, by a substantial space. The shape and direction of extension of the knife,

and particularly of the I cutting edge thereof, is of great importance, as upon it depends the ease with which the wall of the can may be cut.

7c is a projection near the front end of the rod limiting its rearward movement.

or is a ring at the rear of the rod limiting its forward movement and serving also as a means. for suspending the device when not in use.

To operate the device, the piercing point of the rod is inserted into the top of the can to be opened, this being effected by pressure on the handle, which is transmitted, through the projection is, to the rod. The handle is then moved backwardly along the rod until the point of the knife clears the side of the can, and the device is then depressed until it extends substantially parallel with the level of the top of the can. The handle is then moved forwardly until the forward end of the knife h substantially penetrates the wall of the can immediately below the top. The

handle is then rotated on the off-set part of the rod as an axis, thus cutting through the wall of the can throughout, or nearly throughout, its circumference, immediately below the top. It will be observed that, in action, the knife is substantially behind the rod, the efl'ect being that the knife operates with far greater ease and efficiency than if it were located immediately below the shank or in advance thereof; and moreover, the wall of the can is bent or crimped over along its out edge so as to present a smooth edge to the hand.

The wall of the handle is provided with numerous perforations for the purpose of decreasing the weight of the handle, this expedient being allowable by reason of the fact that the handle is entirely hollow and devoid of guides or other devices for sustaining the rod in place and guiding it in its longitudinal movements, the support and guidance of the rod being effected wholly by the end-walls of the handle. The described means for supporting and guiding the rod also has the additional advantage that it enables the handle to be considerably shortened in length, thus still further lightening the device and enabling it to be manipulated with more fa- A feature enables the device to be constructed very economically without any sacrifice of efficiency.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: I

1. A can opener comprising a hollow handle having orificed end Walls, a rod extending entirely through the handle and supported and guided in the orifices in the end walls, said rod being offset at its forward end to form a piercing point, and a cutting blade secured to the forward end of the handle and. projecting laterally and forwardly.

2. A can-opener comprising a hollow han dle having orificed end walls, a rod extending entirely through the handle and supported and guided in the orifices in the end. walls,

said rod being bent at its forward end down I ward and thence forward and contracted to a piercing point, and a cutting blade secured to the forward end of the handle and extending under the rod and projecting laterally and forwardly with respect thereto, the edge of the blade nearest the rod being a cutting edge, substantially as described.

3. A can-opener comprising a hollow han dle having orificed end walls, a rod extending entirely through the handle and supported and guided in the orifices in the end Walls, said rod being bent at its forward end down ward and thence forward and contracted to a piercing point, and a cutting blade secured to the forward end of the handle and extending under the rod and projecting laterally and forwardly with respect thereto, the edge of the blade nearest the rod being a cutting edge concave with respect to the body of the blade and separated from the rod in a lateral direction by a substantial space, substantially as described.

4. A can-opener comprising a hollow handle having orificed end walls, a rod extending entirely through the handle and supported and guided in the orifices in the end walls, said rod being offset at its forward end to form a piercing point, and a cutting blade secured to the forward end of the handle and having a cutting edge curving outwardly and thence forwardly, the forward end of said. cutting edge being substantially straight and parallel with the rod and separated therefrom a substantial distance, substantially as described.

5. A can-opener comprising a mutuallyslidable rod and handle, said handlev having no supports or guides for the rod except oriflees in the end walls of the handle, means at both ends of the rod limiting the extent of its relative longitudinal movement, the front of the rod being offset to form a piercing point, and a knife secured to the handle on the side thereof corresponding to the side on which the rod is off set, said knife projecting from the rod and handle laterally substantially as described.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 23rd day of September, 1907.

ALFRED G. EULNER.

lVitnesses M. M. HAMILTON,

A. M. URIAN.

and forwardly, 

